Open AccessGalactic Darwinism: Epistemological significance of astrobiology for the theory of evolution
Author(s) -
Milan M. Ćirković,
Biljana Stojković
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
theoria
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-081X
pISSN - 0351-2274
DOI - 10.2298/theo1701101c
Subject(s) - evolvability , darwinism , epistemology , evolutionary theory , universality (dynamical systems) , context (archaeology) , philosophy of science , hierarchy , multidisciplinary approach , philosophy , sociology , biology , evolutionary biology , social science , physics , paleontology , quantum mechanics , economics , market economy
In this article we suggest that the new multidisciplinary field of astrobiology, as a set of the most general research programs dealing with life in its cosmic context is not only useful, but indeed necessary for the full epistemological and methodological justification of the theory of biological evolution. For this purpose, we use three examples of major problems in the philosophy of biology, namely the question of the universality of evolutionary mechanisms, the problem of the origin of the biological hierarchy and the evolvability of evolution problem, which are difficult to address without significant influence of Astrobiology results. We will also consider some of the consequences this has concerning the very philosophy of biology, traditionally understood.